Jedi Academy Grounds & Entrance Hall

*The shuttle came to a stop in front of the academy. Jade made her way off the shuttle and found herself staring in awe at temple before her. Even when she lived here, she had never seen what it looked like, but she couldn't describe it. Slowly, her steps moved forward, one by one, until her pace finally came to a normal walk. It was so big. She could only wonder how many people actually lived and trained here. She went up the steps of the northern entrance, the scene something out of a story. It looked like a castle, something that a child would see in their dreams. But here it was, it was real.

She didn't get much farther as she was stopped by a Jedi master. She figured it'd only be right to make sure any who came uninvited were checked and given permission to enter. Looking to the Master, she gave a small bow.*

"I've come here in hopes to become a Jedi. Who must I speak to about this?"

*Jade reached out her hand to the man to shake it. Her hands were small, the size one would expect from a young woman. She shook it firmly and gave Arvis a light, innocent smile, something she always did to any she met. It was habit from living on the streets to get what she needed and out of trouble.*

"I'm Jade, Jade Hanac."

*She wore her typical attire, a sleeveless white blouse and black skirt, ending with knee high black boots. Strapped to her right leg rested a burgundy DC-15s blaster in its holster. She ran her hand through her shoulder length silver hair, which was in a ponytail that hung to her left and over her shoulder. Her first thought was to pull the whole young and innocent approach as she did with any on the streets, but quickly pushed it from her mind. These were Jedi and such little tricks wouldn't on them.

Quickly, the shine in her eyes seemed to change, going from a cheery innocent appearance to a more focused and mature look. In fact, her whole face seemed to change, appearing like she was aging from a teenager to a young adult quickly.*

"My father was a Jedi here, but but left when I was born. When I was two, we moved to Contruum. They died there. My father told me not to give into my hate but to seek out the Jedi because he wanted me to put my abilities to good use. It took me a year and a half before I finally could bring myself to come here."

*Jade's smile faded as she thought on her family. It wasn't a Sith that had killed them, but just a regular gang of thugs. With her father's skills, one would think that simple thugs wouldn't be a match. But in was a quick end for him. But despite leaving the Jedi, he held them in high esteem. When she had killed the thugs, he came back to her, even after death to try and guide her and keep her from that hate.

She took a breath as Arvis spoke of the difficult path Jedi had to walk. She couldn't imagine how difficult it could really be. She began to feel weak and the urge to run from this place seemed to settle over her. Even now, as she had felt for the past year and a half, the nervousness about being her poked at her mind. But whether it would be difficult or not, she would not be swayed on her choice. She was here and she would go through the training and make her family proud.*

"I watched my father die and I lost myself in hurt and hate. I...I killed them without thought. I would have fallen into that darkness already, but even after death my father spoke to me. He told me not to fall to it. He told me he believed in me and to find those who could help me use my abilities to help others. Those were the last words he spoke to me and it is my desire to see that they are fulfilled. I want to become a Jedi, as my father before me."

*Jade couldn't help but manage a smile. She did taste the darkness, the hatred and the sheer power that could be gained from giving to it. It was powerful in its temptation, sweet to the taste. But she was here now, pushing to be a Jedi, ready to fight that same darkness that could have taken her. True, her father had spoken to her, but it was her choice and her resolve that kept her strong since that day. She would never forget her parents, the kindness in their hearts, the gentleness of their voices. They would forever remain with her in her heart. It was time to truly take her life, her direction into her own hands.

She looked to the main building. With the focus of her mind, something seemed to change about it all. It was still grand in its appearance, but now it held a different light, a light of truth, power, and the path to do what she was meant to. In that light, she now saw hope. She managed brighter smile.*

"Right away, huh? No rest for the wicked I take it?" *She couldn't help but manage a giggle.*

*Jade looked to the floor, her mind thinking back to what she had received in training from her father. Her had taught her skills to survive, that was for sure. Perhaps he taught her in hopes of her coming this way at some point. Perhaps it was merely to better protect herself down the road. Or maybe even to pass a little of what he knew on to her. The reason didn't matter, only that she did have some training, some understanding of what would lay before her. Gathering what she learned, she looked to Arvis.*

"My father did train me some. He taught me to use the Force. I started when I was about three. I'm capable of using push and pull, speed, and jump effectively. I have nothing to compare it to, but I like to say I'm very adept at it. I.." *She paused a bit, wondering if she should admit what she did after her parents died, but decided it was best to get such things out now.* "I used them in helping me survive on the streets. I had no money and I was alone, so I became quite effective and pickpocketing. Wrong, I know, but it came from those who seemed to have more than enough to spare and never possessions, only their credits. As such, I'm quite good with slight of hand and also making me graceful, swift, and agile. He also taught me to handle melee weapons, mostly swords and knives, and blasters. The skill I had was more than sufficient to take out the thugs who killed my family. But to face Jedi or Sith, I'd wager my skills would barely keep me alive."

== The Front Gates ==

The movement from the distillery to the academy was smooth and silent, until the bald man woke up from his stupor about an hour ago. Aleranus had twisted the arrowhead, producing what must have been a mind-numbing amount of pain, before stuffing the man's mouth with a cotton oilcloth and using the song of the Force to twist his mind into compliance, very briefly. The bald man fell asleep not long after and Aleranus had been able to continue his journey south.

As the sun rose, he'd found himself in a copse of trees on the main road to the entrance of the academy. Speeder traffic was light but present nonetheless, and there were guards stationed at the walls. He would not enter undetected. All that mattered was that he never give the prisoner up to anyone other than the Jedi. Even the clones here could be suspect at this point.

There was no going over or under, but so long as none of the speeders passing by were from the planetary authorities, there was a way through. Even a call placed by one of the pedestrian speeders would not be responded to immediately.

It was words that would save him from troubles, now.

Hitching the bald man again onto his shoulders, Aleranus steps out of the trees. A shoulder is visible from the tangle of vines first. Three more steps and a head of black hair, hunched beneath a bundle. Three more and his chest is visible from the undergrowth of the forest. Then it is all there as he walks briskly toward the front gates. A hundred yards and he already sees a speeder shift and swerve, its driver surprised by the sight of a young boy carrying what appears to be a dead body. Three minutes, minimum, until the planetary authorities arrive.

"I am here for Nalatua'lin," he says to the figures at the gate, slowing his speed. "I need help with this prisoner. Jedi help. Please?"

Trekking through the darkness of night. Slinking in the shadows like a common criminal. Navigating the woods outside the academy like a clone commando.

And he couldn't help himself. Beneath Nalatua'lin's gaze, his skin pinked, just a little.

"After Bela Vistal proved empty, I followed the song of the Force," he said, shifting the body on his shoulders slightly. "It has not steered me wrong before, and I do not think it did this time either. There is a Sith demon on this world. Somewhere. And this man may know where it is. If he does not, his allies will. Can he be held here, within the academy, until questioned?"